Lantern-sign for locomotive-engines



2 Shoots-Sheet 1.

I (ModL) -JQMO-NTGOM ERY. Lantern Sign for Locomotive Engines. No.239,334. Patented March '29, I881.

N.PETF.RS. PHOYOiITMOGRAPHER wAsmNrTuN u C (ModeL) 2 Shoets-Sh-eet 2.-J. MONTGOMERY. Lantern Sign for Locomotive Engines.

Patented March 29,1881.

Fig. 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- JOHN MONTGOMERKOF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

LANTERN-SIGN FOR LOCOMOTIV E-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,334, dated March29, 1881.

Application filed September 13, 1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concernBe it known that I, JOHN MONTGOMERY, of thecity of Springfield,in thecounty of Clarke and State of Ohio, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Lantern-Signs for L- eoniotive-Engines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an illuminated lantern-sign having letters andfigures-in the face or side of the same, so that the number and class ofthe engine can be readily seen as the train approaches.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the moving of trains onrailroads according to prescribed rules, to wit: passenger, red light inletters; freight, green light in letters; construction, uncolored glass;specialpassenger,

red, white, and red; special freight, green,

white, and green; or, by the display of red, green, and white lights,singlyor in combinations of two or three colors, to denote the differentclass of trains operated by the railroad using this lantern; and, also,the object of my invention is to show letters and figures denoting theclass, number, and service of the engine to which it is attached, incolors distinguishing the same.

Heretofore letters and figures have been used with the figures andletters painted upon ordinary glass, and also shown in relief upon clearglass plates in a frame; but as the former is subject, from vibrationand shocks in stopping and starting the engine, to be easily broken, itsuse entails much expense, as the panes of glass must be often replaced.In the latter invention the light is thrown through the glass from thehead-light, and its near proximity to that prevents the characters on itfrom being readily distinguishable. Besides this, it is also liable tobreakage, and, as it has been used with clear glass only, it does notpartake of the nature of my invention, which is designed to show, by theparticular color of the glass, the class to which the engine belongs, bythe figures the number, and by the letters the service in which it isemployed.

Figure 1 is a partial front view of a railroadlooomotive having myimprovement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the lantern.Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a corner section with the parts broken outto show the interior device. tor-plate and glass, and shows the tripleflanges which retain them in position.

A is the lantern, which is made in the form of a long square box, ofsheet metal, with an iron frame. It has a sheet-metal back, and its endshave slide-doors, which can be drawn out from the top. It can carry oneor morelamps, and it is provided with two rings, b, on the top, one ateach end, by which it is suspended under the head-light board. Itisprovided with three spaces for figuresand letters. These are made open,as seen in the figures, and may be cast to give them strength. Theyslide into the frame, between posts formed with vertical flanges, asshown in Fig. 4, in which B is the letter-plate; E, the corner post, andE one of the middle posts, of the lantern-frame. These latter haveflanges on each side for the reception of the letter-plate and glass ofthe contiguous panel. A thicker flange divides the glass andletter-plate, so as to prevent all danger of contact.

0 is the glass, which slides down between the middle and inside flangesof the post. It is narrower in width than the plate in front of it,leaving a space at each side within the flanges, and in this space is along curved spring, D. This is riveted to the body of the post, its bendpressing against the edge of the glass, and its free end resting againstthe post. These springs retain the glass in position, and prevent anydanger of breakage.

In using my improved lantern, green glass may be used for regulartrains, red for extra, and blue for special. 10 R denotes No. 10 regular10 X, No. 10 extra. S P L indicates special.

The metal plates and the glass sections are all interchangeable.

I claim as my improvement- 1. The improvement in the art or mode,hereinbefore described, of indicating the number and class of service ofan approaching engine, which consists in suspending and displaying underthe reflectingsurface of the head-light a lantern havingspecially-colored glass and open letters or figures.

2. The combination, in a lantern adapted to be suspended under thereflecting-surface of a head-light of a locomotive, of specially-coloredFig.4. is a top view of theletglass, to distinguish the class to whichthe entriple-flanged posts and interchangeable metal 10 gine belongs,and open letters and figures, inletter and figure plates, in combinationwith dicating the number and kind. of service to interchangeablecoloredglass plates and which the engine belongs. I springs forretaining the latter in position,

3. In a lantern for locomotives, the combisubstantially as hereinbeforeset forth. nation of the vertical triple-flanged posts E JOHNMONTGOMERY. and E, plates B, glass 0, and springs D, as Attest: and forthe purpose hereinbefore set forth. CARLTON UTLEY,

4. Alantern for locomotives having upright B. O. CONVERSE.

